CAROLINA – The Chief Albert Luthuli Municipality has warned residents to be on high alert after fraudsters allegedly began impersonating executive mayor Mbuso Magubane in an attempt to solicit money from members of the public.

According to a public notice issued by the municipality today, criminals are reportedly using fake social media accounts and messaging platforms, including WhatsApp, while posing as the executive mayor.

The municipality said the scammers request money, donations or financial assistance from unsuspecting residents, allegedly promising to repay the funds at a later stage.

Municipal officials stressed that these requests are fraudulent and urged residents not to respond.

“The Executive Mayor does not conduct official business, request money, or solicit donations from residents through private messaging platforms. Any such communication should be treated as a scam,” the municipality stated.

Residents have been urged to verify the authenticity of any request for money or donations, even if it appears to come from a public official, friend or family member.

The municipality advised residents to ignore and delete suspicious messages claiming to be from the executive mayor or any municipal official, never share banking details, passwords or other personal information in response to unsolicited requests, enable two-step verification on messaging applications, and confirm any suspicious communication through official municipal channels.

The matter has been reported to law enforcement authorities.

Residents who have received such messages or who have fallen victim to the scam are encouraged to report the incident to their nearest police station and open a criminal case.

The municipality said it remains committed to protecting residents from fraudulent activities and urged the public to remain vigilant.